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Presidential Scholars Information
General InformationThe best place on the Internet for Presidential Scholars information is the Presidential Scholars Resource Page developed by Jane Rigby, a 1996 Scholar. This page contains some very basic information on the program as well as some information specifically related to the 1997 Scholars: |
The Presidential Scholars Program was initiated by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Two students were selected from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and overseas Americans, as well as 15 at-large students. In 1979, the program was expanded to include 20 students recognized for excellence in the arts. Scholars were invited to nominate a teacher to be recognized as a Distinguished Teacher starting in 1983.
Academic Scholars are selected through a screening process using the SAT and ACT. The top 2600 seniors are invited to submit applications to the Commission. These are screened down by a committee to a group of 500 students. The Commission then selects the 121 Scholars who are invited to National Recognition Week.
Arts Scholars are selected through a process administered by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. 125 students are invited to a week-long arts festival. 50 students are recommended to the Commission after this festival. From this group, the Commission selects the 20 Arts Scholars who are invited to National Recognition Week.
The Scholars are brought to Washington for a week of activities. The Arts Scholars present a performace at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Various governmental officials speak to the Scholars on various topics. The highlights of the week are the Medallion Ceremony and a visit to the White House to hear from the President.
Presidential Scholars attend colleges and universities around the country. Here is a partial list of those institutions, with the number of 1997 Scholars attending (figures subject to change).
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Michigan | 2 |
| University of Northern Iowa - | 1 |
| Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland | 1 |
Chairman - Stuart G. Moldaw (California) - Chairman of the Board, Gymboree Stores
Vice-chair - Barbara Holt (Maine) - Founding Partner, The Planning Alliance
Margaret Blackshere (Illinois) - Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO
Francis J. Bonner, Jr (Pennsylvania) - Professor of Clinical Medicine, Medical College of Pennsylvania
Thomas Britton (New Hampshire) - Marketing Manager, Millpore Corporation
Reverend Stewart C. Cureton (South Carolina) - Pastor, Reedy River Baptist Church
John Davidson (New Mexico) - Member, New Mexico Commission on Higher Education
Joseph D. DiVincenzo (New York) - President, DiVincenzo & Associates Insurance Agency
Edith (Kit) Dobelle (California) - Former White House Chief of Protocol
Sharon Draper (Ohio) - Teacher, Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Susan Freibert (Wisconsin) - Executive Director, Quality Education Commission
Susan Gaertner (Minnesota) - Ramsey County Attorney
Felicia Gervais (Massachusetts) - Former President, Leonard L. Farber Corporation
Freman Hendrix (Michigan) - Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Detroit
Patricia Jean Henry (Oklahoma) - President, Gibson's Discount Centers
Gloria G. Barr Jackson (Florida) - Guidance Director, New River Middle School, Broward County, Florida
Dolores Kohl (California) - President/Chaiman, Dolores Kohl Educational Foundation
Nathaniel LaCour (Louisiana) - President, United Teachers of New Orleans
Ronnie Fern Liebowitz (New Jersey) - President, Presidential Scholars Foundation
William Marshall (Ohio) - Assistant White House Counsel
Penny Miller (Kentucky) - Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Kentucky
Sandy Miller (Nevada) - First Lady of Nevada
Marilyn Monahan (Washington, DC) - Secretary-Treasurer, National Education Association
Dan Morales (Texas) - Attorney General of Texas
Dan Moris (Colorado) - Consultant, US WEST Foundation
Nancy Ellison Rollnick (New York) - Photojournalist and Celebrity Portraitist
James Shimoura (Michigan) - Attorney
Eddie L. Smith, Jr. (Mississippi) - Mayor, Holly Springs, Mississippi
Niara Sudarkasa (Pennsylvania) - President, Lincoln University
Nancy Verderber (Missouri) - Administrative Liasion of Disability Related Issues, St. Louis County School District
Margaret M. Whillock (Arkansas) - Consultant, Baptist Health Foundation
Harold Wishna (Florida) - Executive Director, Southeast Region United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
served since 31 January 1998.
